The Goddess's Hero

Old Enemies

Skye's POV

"Josephine." I muttered. She looked down on me with a warning stare. I glared back. 

"Skye Firebird," Adrian spoke with greater confidence than he had in the dungeon. I tried to focus my attention on him, but Josephine's hand found it's way onto his shoulder. I grimaced, remembering that same hand stabbing me in the chest. "You know my advisor, the sweet Lady Evangeline?" Adrian rubbed her hand loving before kissing it chastely. I wanted to vomit. 

Be smart, Skye. Bri warned. You may hate her, but don't show it. Your life may depend on it. 

I took her advice. 

"I know no Lady Evangeline, Your Majesty." I bowed my head in respect. If I didn't respect Josephine at least I could show my best friend the honor and respect he deserves. 

"Then why stare at her so? You look as if you want to kill her." Adrian chuckled and the room of nobles followed. 

"I wish nothing of the sort, Your Majesty." I had practiced etiquette with Nikolai and now was the time to prove I had learned something. I continued, "She is mighty young and I only wish to know that she understands her role." Josephine glared hard at me but didn't say anything. Adrian's eyebrows raised. 

"And what role is that?"

"As advisor, her role is to guide you toward the best possible path." I stared directly in Josephine's eyes as I continued, "I wonder if she is able to put aside her own interests toward that goal." Josephine breathed in deeply and her glare hardened. 

"As you did when you deserted your people, Captain?" She retorted sharply. 

Calm your breathing. Don't let her sharp words fool you. Answer honestly and politely. Be respectful. Bri's calm tone guided me once again.

"As you are aware, My King, I had battled with a strong opponent." I wondered briefly what Jacqueline was up to now before focusing back on my task. "You saw as everyone there did, that another came and whisked me away before your very eyes." 

"You did not come back." Adrian's voice was strong and his back was straightened. 

Be smart. Bri reminded me once again.  

"You helped our enemies, the Draconi, instead!" Adrian pointed at me accusingly. The nobles in the room began whispering to each other in shock. "The next thing we hear about you after you disappeared is that you saved the Draconi from being completely drowned. What say you?" 

Surprise flitted across my face. Bri's words flew through my head again. Be honest, be polite.

"It was my fault that the entirety of their tribe was nearly washed off the face of Comwen." I missed the look of surprise that crossed Josephine's face. "I used magic to defeat their chieftain Linus. It was my responsibility to find survivors."

"You should have killed them all!" Shouted a noble from my left. Cheers at his proclamation echoed through the halls. 

"What threat are they to you?" I turned to the noble in question. "Their tribe is made up of mostly little children." 

"Children? Draconi are monsters!" He shook a fist at me. 

"Linus was a monster." I stated. "Those under his rule had no choice but to do as he said." I turned to Adrian. "Since they have a new chieftain, what have they done to you?" 

Adrian didn't rub his chin or move a muscle. He simply answered, "Nothing." 

I turned to the noble who wished for the tribe's demise, "The Draconi are not weak and they are not setting up plans to kill you when they get older. Their only wish is to find peace in this world. Is that not what you want?" I looked at each noble in turn as I continued. "Do you not want peace for your children?"